Roof deck



April 11, 1933- A. L. DOERING 1,903,543

ROOF DECK Filed July'22, 1931 AzmsRrL/NosA rDosnws,

Patented Apr. 11, 1933' UNITED STATES PATENT oF icE- ALBERT LINDSAY DOERING, OF GERMANTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO S. THOBN COMPANY, OF GEBMANTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVANIA Application filed July '22,

inventionirelates'to roofsand other structures. wherein a substantiallyiflat cover ing is formed ofv series of sheet metal plates overlapped at their edges likeshingles, and particularly to sheet metal clip means for rigidly connecting the overlapped edges .of such plates at short distances throughout the area of the covering. For instance, in accordance with specifications of the United States Government, the plates of such roof decks must be securely connected at intervals not exceeding twelve inches.

In the preferred form of my invention chosen for illustration, said plates are corrugated to form a series of longitudinally extending parallel ribs projecting from one side thereof and the ribs include rib entering portions adapted to fit within such a rib on one plate, and in unitary relation with a coupling portion which. overlies andrsecures the edge of an adjoining and overlapping plate, and said clip portions are in integral connection witha base portion which is adapted to be bent around the flanges of an 'I-beam purlin, or other supporting element ofa roof. Such plates are preferably of uniform width, but of different lengths in accordance with the spacingof the purlins, for instance, four feet six inches, seven feet, eight feet, etc. i 1

My invention includes the various novel features of construction and arrangement hereinafter more definitely specified.

In said drawing; Fig. I is a perspective view showing two adjoining plates overlapped and interengaged with a clip embodying my invention.

Fig. II is a perspective View of the complete clip indicated in Fig. I, but in its primary form, before'it is bent to overlap the adjoining plates shown in Fig. I.

Fig. III is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the structure shown in Fig.1, takelrin a vertical plane transverse to the ribs on the plates.

Fig. IV. is a fragmentary vertical sectional view'taken in aplane parallel with said ribs.

In said figures; the roof plates 1 and 2 are overlapped, as indicated at 3, and'are simi- ROOF mack 1931. Serial No. 552,357.

larly corrugated toform a series of parallel ribs 5,6, and 7 projecting from one face thereof. As indicated, the rib 5 is formed.

by bending theedge of the metal sheet at right angles so that it will fit within the rib 6 which is U-shaped and at the adjoining.

each of the sheets; the metal is so far'elastic that the ribs 6 and 7 upon one sheet may be pressed into the ribs 6 and 7 of another sheet until the sheets are in contact at their upper plane surfaces, as indicated in F I.

As above indicated, I prefer to make said sheets of a standard width of two feet and to connect them at their overlapped edges at intervals of one foot, preferably by clips such as are shown in Fig. II. I

As shown in ig. II, each of said clips includes a base clamp member 90f heavy sheet metal stamping, say No. 16 gage, the ends'of which are adapted to be bent over the edges of the top flangeslO of the purlin 1 1, or other supporting beam; to rigidly connect said clip therewith. Said base member 9- is integrally and rigidly connected with the coupling member 12 of the clip, conveniently by welding them together at the spots 12. Said coupling member 12 is formed of thinner metal than said base member, say No; 20 gage, and includes the flange 13 extending vertically with respect'to said base member 9 in unitary relation with the flange 14 extending in parallel spaced relation therewith plate 1 is held down in that position by the and having the flange 15 bent at right an- I flange 15 on said clip which overlaps the top surface of said plate 1.

Said plate 2 is then slid toward the observer with its rib '5 outside of the corresponding rib 5 on said plate 1, but with its ribs 6. and 7 inside of the corresponding ribs 6 and 7 on said plate 1 until the edge of said plate 2 abuts against said flange 16 at the junction of the latter with the flange 15 on said clip. Thereupon,said flange 16 is bent downwardly, parallel with said flange 15, 'to hold down the edge of said plate 2 which overlaps the edge of said plate 1.

Said clips thus have the double function and effect of holding said plates against movement'in the direction of the length of said ribs and in rigid connection with said support 11.

In order to distinguish the several portions ofthelclip, in the following claims,-it may be' observed that the portion 13 thereof serves as a plate stop flange; that the portion 14 thereof serves as a rib enteringflange that the-portion 15 thereof'serves as a top holding flange for one of the plates, to wit,

the plate 1, and that the portion 16 thereof serves as a top holding flange for the other plate 2.

I prefer to employ such clips in connection with the middle ribs on the overlapped plates throughout the area of the roof deck or similar structure embodying said plates and to use other forms of fastening clips to engage the interlocked edges of said plates.

Therefore, I do not desire to-limit myself to-the precise details of construction and arrangement herein set forth, as it .is obvious that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the essential features of my invention, as'defi'ned in the-appended claims.

v I claim:

81. In a roof deck; the combination with a plate corrugated to form'a rib therein, pro

R jecting from one face thereof, the opposite walls of the rib being in spaced relation; of another similar plate having one edge overlapping said first plate and with a similar rib entered in said rib of the first plate; and means for detachably rigidly holding said platesin such engaged relation, including a clip having a coupling member inserted in one of the ribs of said first plate, between spaced relation; of another similar plate having one edge overlapping said first plate and with its ribs entered in the ribs of said first plate; means for rigidly holding said plates in contiguous relation; including a clip having a coupling member inserted in one of the ribs of said first plate, between that rib and the rib of the second plate engaged therewith; said coupling member extendng above the top of the interengaged plates and having flanges parallel with said top and engaged with the respective plates; and a base member on said coupling member, 1n integral relation therewith, 'with oppositely projecting ends" for v bending around a supporting beam.

3. In a roof deck; plate corrugated to form a rib th-ereln projecting. from one face thereof, the opposite Walls of the rib being in spaced relation; of

another similar plate havingone edge over-- lapping said first plate and with its rib entering the rib of said first plate; a clip for rigid- 7 1y holding said plates in such contiguous re-' lation, including a base member which is a the combination with a" strip of heavy sheet metal adapted to be bent at its ends to engage a supporting beam; and a coupling member which is formed of thinner sheet metal including a portion integrally rigidly connected with said base member; said coupling member having a plate stop flange portion extending perpendicularly to the plane of said base member in unitary relation with a rib entering flange portion extending parallel with it and connected with it by a bight at one end; the oppositeend of said rib entering flange having a top holding flange'extending at right angles to it, parallel with said base member, and in unitary relation with another platetop holding flange at one end thereof; said top holding flanges respectively overlying said plates, at the lapped edges thereof. I

r 4. In a deck plate clip; the combination with a base member of metal including means to engage a supporting beam; of a coupling member formed of ductile metal carried by said base member; said coupling member having an upright plate stop portion with a laterally ext-ending rib entering portion, free from said stop portion at the top and bottom thereof, and connected therewith only at one, upright, end thereof the opposite end of said rib entering portion having a plate top holding portion extending substantially parallel with said base member.

5. In a deck plate clip; the combination with a base member of ductile metal adapted to be bent at its ends to engage a supporting beam; of a coupling member formed of ductile metal integrally rigidly connected with said base member said coupling member having a plate stop portion extending transverse= 1y to the plane of said base member, and a rib entering portion extending parallel with sald stop portion, but free from said stop portion at the top and bottom thereof, and connected therewith only at one, upright,

end thereof; the opposite end of said r-ib en of said base member, and a rib entering tion extending substantially parallel with tering portion having a' plate top holding portion extending parallel with said base member. 1

6. In a deck plate clip; the combination with a base member which is a strip of duetile sheet metal adapted to be bent at its ends to engage a supporting beam; of a coupling member formed of sheet metal integrally rigidly connected with said base member; said coupling member having a plate stop portion extending transversely to the plane porsaid stop portion, but free from said stop portion at the top and bottom thereof, and connected therewith only at one, upright, end thereof; the opposite end of said rib entering portion having a plate top holding portion extending substantially parallel with said base member.

7. In a deck plate clip; the combination with a base member which is a strip of ductile sheet metal adapted to be bent at its ends to engage a supporting beam; of a coupling member formed of sheet metal integrally rigidly connected with said base member intermediate of the length of the latter; said coupling member having a plate stop portion extending substantially perpendicularly to the plane of said base member, and a rib entering portion extending substantially parallel with said stop portion but free from said stop portion at the top and bottom thereof, and connected therewith only at one, upright, end thereof; the opposite end of said rib entering portion having a plate top holding portion extending laterally beyond said stop portion and substantially parallel with said base member.

8. In a deck plate clip; the combination with a base member which is a strip of ductile metal having means adapted to engage a sup port; of a coupling member which is formed of sheet metal including a portion welded to said base member; said coupling member having a plate stop flange portion extending perpendicularly to the plane of said base memher, in unitary relation with a rib entering flange portion extending parallel with it and connected with it by a bight at one end; the

opposite end of said rib entering flange having a plate top holding flange extending at right angles to it and parallel with said base member and in unitary relation with another plate top holding flange at the inner edge thereof primarily extending transversely to said base member and other flanges.

9. In a deck plate clip; the combination with a base member which is a strip of heavy sheet metal adapted to be bent at its ends to engage a supporting beam; of a coupling member which is formed of thinner sheet metal including a portion extending beneath and in contact with said base member and integrally rigidly connected therewith, by a weld; said coupling member having a plate stop flange portion extending perpendicularly to the plane of said base member, in unitary relation with a rib entering flange portion extending parallel with it and connected with it by a bight at one end; the opposite end of said rib entering flange having a plate top holding flange extending at rightangles to it and parallel with said base member and in unitary relation with another plate top hold- 

